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Consensus interferon and ribavirin for patients with chronic hepatitis C and failure of previous interferon‐α therapy
Author(s) -
Böcher Wulf O.,
Schuchmann Marcus,
Link Ralph,
Hillenbrand Heribert,
Rahman Fareed,
Sprinzl Martin,
Mudter Jonas,
Löhr Hanns F.,
Galle Peter R.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
liver international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.873
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1478-3231
pISSN - 1478-3223
DOI - 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2005.01239.x
Subject(s) - ribavirin , medicine , dosing , interferon , gastroenterology , chronic hepatitis , alpha interferon , hepatitis c virus , hepatitis c , immunology , virus
Background: The efficacy of consensus interferon (CIFN), a synthetic IFN with optimised in vitro activity, was assessed in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients who had failed the pretreatment with interferon‐α (IFNα) and ribavirin. Methods: One hundred and three patients after non‐response ( n =69) or relapse ( n =34) to IFNα+/−ribavirin were randomly assigned to high‐dose induction (CIFN 27→9 μg daily for 24 weeks, 9 μg t.i.w. for 24 weeks) or low‐dose treatment (CIFN 18 μg t.i.w. for 12 weeks, 9 μg t.i.w. for 36 weeks); each with ribavirin 800 mg/day. Follow‐up was 24 weeks. Results: Non‐responder patients treated with high‐dose induction had higher early virological response rates (63% vs. 39%, P <0.05). This initial positive effect was lost during the last 24 weeks of treatment yielding sustained virological response (SVR) rates of 26% in both groups. Relapse patients revealed SVR in 70% and 38% in groups A and B (NS). Treatment was well tolerated with side effect‐related preterm discontinuations in 8% and 5%. Conclusions: CIFN and ribavirin treatment induced considerable SVR rates in patients with non‐response or relapse to IFNα+/−ribavirin. Viral elimination rates might be further increased by continuous daily administration of CIFN and weight‐adjusted ribavirin dosing.